Does sun cream go off?

A concerned sun lover querys shop advice

Purveyors of sun cream advise that sun cream will go off after a year and should be thrown away. Is this true or is it a shopkeepers ruse to make you buy more of their products?

Oct 25th, 2005

5 lacklustre pieces of inspiration on “Does sun cream go off?”

  1. lobster Says:
    October 25th, 2005 at 10:53 am

    It would seem that sun cream does indeed have a lifespan, and according to one product on Amazon (Dr.Hauschka Sunscreen Lotion), mineral sun creams last longer than chemical ones and also do not require strong preservatives. New legislation (I think) requires all cosmetic products to have a ‘use-by’ type symbol which give the length of life of the product once opened (e.g., 24 months). I have also come across this comment, which is from the States I presume:
    “Sunscreens, like many other products, have a limited shelf life and become less effective over time. Consumers should check the expiry date of their old sunscreen containers and replace them if they are out of date”. - from http://www.bchealthguide.org/healthfiles/hfile26.stm

  2. Anonymous Says:
    October 25th, 2005 at 3:04 pm

    I have no knowledge of this, and always use factor 8 if i use sun cream at all. i am, after all, Scottish

  3. Vit D Says:
    October 27th, 2005 at 11:39 am

    oh come on. one day we are told we need to take more Vit D supliments and the next to keep out of the sun. Can we not just live a balanced life with a bit of everything.

    Oh and yes Sun screen does go off

  4. Consultant K Says:
    June 10th, 2010 at 1:50 pm

    Quick update on this one.

    Suncream does have a limited shelf life and it seems to be getting shorter. It seems the chemical component requires to be degradable in the environment (which is sensible) and few suncreams use minerals as the main blocking agent currently.

    In reality folk should try to not bake themselves in the sun for extended periods. Hats, long sleeved tops and generally not wearing a bikini and lying on a beach will all help. A small amount of sun every day is better for you (skin and health wise) than a week of beach bathing - and yes we know that doesn’t fit easily into the modern world.

  5. Consultant G Says:
    July 12th, 2010 at 9:46 am

    The chemicals that block the harmful UV break down over time. A few years ago these broke down to produce carcinogens, so that applying out of date sun cream may have in fact been increasing your risk of developing skin cancer. They have changed the active ingredients now, but the still break down over time. While these new products are thought to be safe, do not risk it because a/ the block will be less effective and b/ the long term effects remain unknown.

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